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LIBHAKY OF C«)N(}HESS. 






JUXITED STATES OF AMERICA. t 



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MOSES; 

OR, 

THE MAN WHO SUPPOSES 

HIMSELF TO BE MOSES, 
NO MOSES J^T ^LlL.^a^.. 



-♦♦«- 



"I WILL BE YOUR MOSES." 

— AKDSEW JOHNSON, 
•♦♦ 



Wtto Yotft: 
AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY 

119 & 121 Nassau Street. 

D. EDWARDS, 5 Beekman St. 
1866. 



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i^%^^ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by 

D. EDWARDS, 

in the Clork'B offlco of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern 
District of New York. m 



C. S. Westcxxtt & Co., Printers, 
No. 79 John Street, N. Y. 



PREFACE. 



'Tis said that Andrew Johnson s'poses 
That he's a genuine second Moses : 
As certain folks don't seem to know it, 
IVe writ this truthful book to show it ; 
I rather think you'd better buy it, 
And when you've read, you wont deny it, 
That Andy is as much like Moses 
As bramble bushes are like roses. 
The drollest Hebrew since the flood, 
Without a drop of Jewish blood. 



MI S E S ." 



THE TWO FOUNDLINGS. 

When little Moses was a baby, 

Miss Pharaoh found him, dear good lady, 

Kindly drew him from the river, 

Kissed away his tears and quiver, 

Furnished cash and education, 

And placed him in a princely station. 

But when he came to be a man, 
Back to the Hebrews straight he ran ; 
Preferring toil in brick and stone, 
Rather than sit on Egypt's throne ; 
His natural love of kindred race. 
No rank or riches could efface. 

In tracing Andy's early history, 
I think you'll find a similar mystery ; 
For when the loyal people found him, 
He was a Democratic foundling, 
Bellowing on Secessia's billows 
In Union ark of stolen willows. 

We raised him up with cheerful voice, 

To highest places in our choice, 

A nobler gift than Pharaoh's crown, 

Or kingly greatness and renown ; 

But instinct ruled — he soon " made tracks" 

For his old friends, the Democrats. 



MOSES 



BRAVE BEGmOTNGS. 

Moses, upon his first essay, 
The Union cause did not betray. 
Seeing a brother's hardship, grief, 
Faithful, he ran to his relief ; 
Saved him from the oppressor's hand, 
Whom slain, he buried in the sand. 

But when he chode a Hebrew knave 
Wronging his helpless fellow-slave. 
He feared the petty tyrant's scorn. 
Lost his courage — fled forlorn — 
Deserted Freedom's holy cause. 
Sure of conservative applause. 

When Johnson took the chair of state, 

He seemed an upright magistrate.. 

'' Back seats for traitors ! — they must learn 

" That treason's odious — no return 

" For them, to place of power or trust, 

" Till they've repented in the dust." 

But soon he cowered beneath the threat 

Of haughty Southrons, who beset 

And clamored round him. They prevailed, 

Scorning the craven as he quailed, 

And using now as pliant tool — 

Though once they called him knave and fool. 



MOSES 



AARON AND SEWARD. 

As Moses' voice was slow, and weaker 

Than Aaron's, he became chief speaker. 

He once set up a golden calf, 

And made the people dance and laiigh ; 

It was a most outrageous folly. 

The times were sober — far from jolly. 

Just so with Seward — Andy's spokesmau, 
He wheedles fools, cajoles and jokes 'em. 
In darksome days he talked so silly, 
'Twas not the statesman spoke, but Billy ; 
" In ninety days 'twill all be over : 
" Hurrah I my boys ! let's romp in clover 1" 

In reading his politic speeches, 
I can't but think of brandy peaches, 
I love to suck the pulp so juicy, 
Till I suspect I'm getting boosy, 
Thereafter, when my lips I've smacked, 
I find the nut is still uncracked. 

And yet we owe him hearty thanks 

For cunning, diplomatic pranks : 

He kept the foreigners befuddled, 

Until the rebels we had cudgelled, 

And then he wrote such thundrous papers, 

That France and England stopped their caper; 



MOSES 



JETHRO AND BEECHER. 

Andy has had a call from Beecher, 
As Moses, from the Midian preacher : 
But Jethro made his visits brief — 
Advised, then left the Hebrew chief ; 
And so, I think, our Brooklyn shepherd 
Had better leave the spotted leopard. 

Come back, thou errant friend of Freedom, 
'Tis not the place for thee in Edom, 
A stranger and an alien there, 
You cannot breathe its tainted air; 
Nor tarry in that wicked camp. 
Composed of rebel, traitor, scamp. 

In stirring days of Kansas rifles — 

Were treason and oppression trifles ? 

When traitors trampled on our banner, 

And in a fierce, defiant manner 

Swore that the Union should be sundered. 

Ah ! then ! how Plymouth Pulpit thundered ! 

Talk not too soon of '' fatted calf," 
Lest people think it's you — and laugh. 
Till Southrons learn that treason's crime 
Let them eat " hominy and swine." 
When that shall make the rascals feel, 
We'll give them mutton chops and veal. 



MOSES. 



"LITTLE VILLAINS." 

I s'posE you've noticed how that Andy 
In aiding Moses finds it handy 
To have a set of tricksters by, 
Like Korah and his company; 
For otherwise, you plainly see 
My story lacks analogy. 

Take Thurlow Weed and join with Dathan, 
Invoke a little divination, 
Then place them on a proper lev^l, 
You'll find you're getting near the Devil ; 
Because you know, if you're observant. 
The master lives quite near his servant. 

When Raymond reads the genial story 
About that " little villain," Korah, 
I wonder if the culprit flinches 
Whene'er the shoe, symbolic, pinches : 
I s'pose he don'tr— he's almost ripe 
For what befell his prototype. 

A yawning chasm swallowed up 
Proud Korah and his cursed troop; 
Dixon and all who go that way, 
Should take the warning while they nia3^. 
For Freedom's besom soon will sweep 
Them all into Oblivion's deep. 



10 MOSES. 



FALSE PROPHETS. 

Who's Andy's Balaam ? — as it looks 

It may be Marble, Wood, or Brooks ; 

Their as'nine nature they betray 

By their eternal jackass bray; 

Yet Balaam tried to lie and couldn't — 

They can — but speak the truth they wouldn't. 

Whene'er the Blairs near Andy pass 
No doubt he thinks of Balaam's ass. 
Although the brute conversed with reason, 
And they talk nonsense, trash and treason. 
Perhaps I do the donkey wrong — 
I don't the Blairs — in this true song. 

Balaam, I think, would thus express 

His own opinion of the Press — 

" The Herald is my antitype 

" In deviltry of every stripe — 

" We lied, spoke truth, blew cold and hot, 

" According to the cash we got." 

How would the fellow curse and blow me 

Could he but find me out and know me, 

For though he deals in truth for pelf, 

He hates to hear it of himself ; 

He has a mighty share in Balaam, 

No doubt in Charon's boat he'll hail him. 



MOSES 



11 



HONEST MEN. 

From men like Esop's cat so mealy, 
Turn now to Tilton, Horace Greeley, 
And other fearless exponents 
Of true Republic sentiments. 
Andy delights in, and commends 
Caleb and Joshua, Moses' friends. 

They said, ''March in without delay 
And take possession while we may." 
And this advice was good and wise, 
But overborne by other spies 
Who told of giants, beasts of prey, 
And many dangers in the way. 

All this our President remembers 

And says, through Democratic members, 

" The South is full of F. F. V. 

' And South Carolina Chivalry, 

" They only have exclusive rights, 

" The rest are niggers and mean whites." 

But Greeley cries — ''All rights for all ! 
" On this firm rock we stand or fall !" 
And there thou standest — ^faithful, brave, 
Unmoved by fear, or wind, or wave, 
While others fail us in the storm, 
We never miss thy noble form ! 



12 MOSES 



SERPENTS AND COPPERHEADS. 

The faithless Jews in courage failed; 
Then fiery Serpents them assailed — 
Would straight upon them swiftly spring 
With deadly bite and mortal sting; 
Andy, in his Mosaic net, 
Could not, it seems, the snakes forget. 

So Johnson, thinking that the breed 

Of Copperheads had been decreed, 

Esteems it foremost of his duties 

To be the showman of these beauties. 

Also a kindness to invite us 

Where these infernal sneaks may bite us. 

I mean the viper — not the man, 
If I should name Vallandigham, 
And hope " my friend" Fernandy Wood 
Will think my personal feelings good, 
Finding his name among the vermin 
In this my true, symbolic sermon. 

For you observe that I am preaching 
Out of the Bible — Gospel teaching : 
These mimic reptiles ought to fear 
The oldest Serpent mentioned there, 
For in their case 'tis clearly shown 
The Devil gets and holds his own. 



MOSES 



13 



QUAIL AM) DUCK. 

Each day, no doubt, at morning prayers 
Reading his Bible, he prepares 
Moses the first to imitate — 
A chicken on his breakfast plate 
Suggests the miracle of quails — 
Upon "dead duck" he then regales. 

But at the time he swallowed Forney, 
He must have found it was a thorny 
Sort of fish — and not a fowl. 
For he has made poor Andy howl, 
And caused, without a doubt or question, 
An awful fit of indigestion : 

Which shows that Andy sometimes fails- 
Mistaking Radicals for quails, 
Which he could easily devour 
Or scare and scatter in an hour : 
But he'll discover his mistake 
When by-and-by they get awake. 

For he could count the quails of Moses 
More easily than count the noses 
Of freemen, who, in must'ring crowds 
Like myriad birds and thund'rous clouds. 
Will send a roar which he'll remember 
Before the end of next November. 



14 MOSES 



ON CANAAN'S BORDERS. 

When once almost upon the borders 
Of Canaan, Moses changed his orders — 
And so, instead of entering in , 
Turned to the wilderness of Zin; 
And then, through many weary years, 
They wandered in distress and fears. 

When Lee succumbed, the South, in terror, 
Convicted of its guilt and error, 
Implored us humbly on its knees, 
" Give us, Dear Sirs, whatever j-ou please." 
And Lincoln soothed with accents mild, 
As father pities erring child. 

Our Canaan, then, was near at hand; 

Peace would have reigned through all the land ; 

Impartial law and equal right 

Without regard to black or white. 

They would have taken, we have given — 

Alas ! — our Moses went to Heaven. 

Then Johnson's "Policy" absurd 
Was followed, and the people erred ; 
Turned to a wilderness of sin, 
Strife and dissensions rose again — 
Some men betrayed us, some deserted. 
Our counsels thus were disconcerted. 



MOSES. 15 



ANDY GETS MGRY. 

Moses at Kadesh thirsty station, 
Smote the rock with indignation — 
Instead of speaking, as directed ; 
Reproved for this, he was rejected 
As Leader of the Jewish band. 
To enter in the Promised Land. 

So Andy's grave, it is recorden. 
Must surely be this side of Jordan : 
Canaan with us he cannot reach, 
Since his improper, angry speech — 
Or rather his intemperate say. 
On our Great Hero's Natal Day. 

A motley crowd of dirty brats, 
Of traitors, rebels, Democrats, 
Composed his audience — then he spoke 
In vulgar phrase and ribald joke ; 
But Moses differs here from Andy, 
For he drank water — Johnson, brandy. 

When Andrew Johnson brought disgrace 
Upon that day and name and place. 
His treacherous "policy" announced, 
Our noblest statesmen false denounced, 
Millions of Freemen solemn swore 
His lead they'd follow never more. 



16 MOSES. 



SPIES AND LIES. 

Andy should take Mosaic hints, 
In noting the coincidence 
Which evident and open lies, 
Between his own and Jewish spies. 
For falsehood in the ancient day. 
As now, held truth beneath its sway . 

Moses sent twelve exploring youth; 
How many, think you, told the truth ? 
Why, two alone of all the dozen — 
The rest agreed to lie and cozen — 
Proving that ten of this committee 
Were Democrats — it was a pity — 

For by their cheating, false report, 
" My policy" prevailed at court, 
The nation lost the looked-for rest. 
Wandered in famine, war, and pest. 
Through deserts dreary, trackless, wide. 
Till all the generation died. 

So Fullerton and Steedman's tour 
Was foreordained, you may be sure — 
Sent by Mosaic destiny, 
Their proper business was to lie. 
The Freedmen's Bureau to assail, 
And misery on the South entail. 



MOSES. IT 



DIVINE SLAVERY. 

Oh, Johnson, you're a second Pharaoh ! 

Born, not at Goshen, but at Cairo. 

By instinct, taste, and education. 

You surely sprung from Egypt's nation — 

A victim of accursed Slavery, 

Robbed of your manhood by its knavery. 

The gen'ral facts are briefly these : 
Egypt, when ruled by King Ramses, 
Believed that slavery was divine. 
Just as your countrymen and mine 
Accepted this inspired solution 
Of "the peculiar institution." 

And Bishop Hopkins — he was there — 
Lord and Van Dyke, ordained to swear — 
" It's Heaven's enjoined, appointed will — 
" Imbrute God's Image, feed with swill, 
'* Chain it and fetter, burden, yoke it, 
" Chastise and cufl" it, strangle, choke it." 

As holy preachers taught this creed, 
Rulers and people all agreed 
'Twas pious duty to assent — 
Best for the " slave to be content;" 
And those who favored Abolition, 
Should be consigned to black perdition. 



18 



MOSES 



SLAVE BREEDERS. 

Now Egypt is the symbol land 
Of hard Oppression's heavy hand, 
The same in Valley of the Nile 
Or Mississippi — cruel, vile ; 
And Pharaoh is a Typic name 
Of free America's crowning shame. 

As with Egyptians, so with us — 
Slavery, a moral incubus. 
Corrupted conscience, reason, laws. 
Gained public honor and applause. 
While with its iron heel it crushed 
A lowly race, whose cries were hushed. 

Virginia, gallant, boastful, bred them. 
Like swine and cattle raised and fed them, 
In market place and shamble sold 
Their kindred flesh and blood for gold ; 
Consigned to social, moral slaughter 
The souls of brother, son, and daughter. 

Ah me I To tell of Afric's wrong 

Is not within the power of song ! 

The slave-pens, traders, auction blocks. 

The thumb-screws, shackles, scourges, stock 

The cruel driver, cheerless hovel — 

How could they otherwise than grovel ? 



MOSES. 19 



"LET MY PEOPLE GO." 

The bondmen cried to Heaven. Their groan 
Ascended to the Eternal Throne. 
The Hebrews' God in anger spake 
As when his wrath made Egypt shake, 
Threat'ning the land with sim'lar woe — 
" Release my people — let them go !" 

Anointed prophets gave the warning — 
Phillips and Cheever, insult scorning — 
And Lovejoy, freely giving life, 
And Beecher, 'mid the Kansas strife, 
And Garrison and other seers 
Foretold the coming vengeful years. 

But Commerce, Church and State protested; 
For though their conscience was arrested, 
Their Great Diana was assailed; 
And if these doctrines but prevailed, 
And slavery with its power go down, 
Their Idol, Gain, would lose his crown. 

At length the Just and Righteous Lord 
Unsheathed his furbished, flaming sword. 
Tempestuous war, with fire and flood. 
Deluged the land in tears and blood : 
Millions of treasure burnt and wasted, 
Houses and lands destroyed and blasted. 



20 MOSES 



EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.? 

With what reluctance Pharaoh bowed 

Beneath the scourge of Heaven and vowed 

To free and let the bondmen go, 

His pledge so often broke doth show; 

For love of power had such control 

Of this despotic Ruler's soul. 

The South, I fear, abolished slavery 
More from dread than from the bravery 
Which springs from justice, truth and love, 
And Grace descending from above. 
Before the wrong they would expel, 
What dire calamities befell ! 

And now, with strange infatuation 
They cling to foolish calculation 
Only to loosen not to break 
The yoke from off the negro's neck. 
And, under false disguise, retain 
The whip, the burden, and the chain. 

They fight against the Living Lord, 
Against His Providence and Word, 
Against the most undoubted proof 
That He doth never stand aloof 
From poor and lowly ones opprest, 
And all injustice doth detest. 



MORES 



21 



THE RED SEA. 

Egypt with plagues was scathed and wasted; 
Then Pharaoh and his servants hasted 
To manumit the captive Jews — 
But afterwards they changed their views, 
And chased them to the Red Sea shore, 
Determined slavery to restore : 

It was a God-defying act, 

Perfidious toward the solemn pact 

With Freedmen and the Freedmen's Lord, 

False to the Nation's plighted word. 

It was their fatal guilt enormous ; 

How should their doom instruct and warn us 1 

For Johnson and his friends endorse 
And follow on the wicked course 
Egypt's conservatives pursued ; 
How striking the similitude ! 
How mad is this " my policy," 
An open, bold apostacy. 

At Philadelphia they assembled — 

A few were duped, but most dissembled ; 

Said General Dix, " We'll bring them back !" 

Meaning — " We'll re-enslave the black !" 

" Restore to tyrants full possession 

" Of power to use their old oppression." 



22 MOSES 



PLOTTING INJUSTICE. 

The Memphian hosts beneath the waves 

Found sudden, certain, awful graves, 

Because they dared Almighty God, 

Who lately had before them trod 

In stately steppings — in the flash 

Of lightning, whirlwind, earthquake-crash. 

Their ruin speaks in thunder tones 
To peoples, governments and thrones: 
" Beware of trifling with the Right, 
" Or challenging Jehovah's might; 
*' Whoever on his buckler rush 
" Justice and wrath will surely crush." 

Our Rebel-Copperhead alliance 

Is madly bent on this defiance, 

Training the Democratic host 

For marching to the Red Sea coast, 

Where trembling Freedmen now sojourn. 

To seize and hasten their return. 

Oh, God of Right, stretch forth thy mighty arm, 
Suffer them not thy fleeing saints to harm I 
Open a pathway in the troubled Sea, 
And let the Earth Thy great Salvation see, 
Their rash pursuers fill with blind delusion, 
Vex and engulf and drown them in confusion ! 



MOSES. 23 



"DO JUSTLY!" 

My countrymen I awake to action. 
Come forth and overthrow this faction ; 
'Tis dangerous to the Nation's life — 
A root of bitterness and strife. 
If it succeeds, the nation dies ; 
For God Almighty it defies. 

From Him no peace can we expect 
Unless the Negro we protect. 
We promised to secure his right 
When we engaged him in the fight — 
Justice that promise will require, 
Or send us mildew, sword and fire. 

For He who governeth the world, 
Old Dagon from his seat hath hurled, 
And those who strive to raise him up 
Are madly bent to fill the cup 
Of God's unmingled wrath. Beware, 
Lest pouring out that cup he swear, 

As unto Moses and the Jews, 
When they did Canaan's rest refuse — 
" This generation, stupid, blind, 
" And reprobate of heart and mind, 
" Shall wander on, with peace unblest, 
" Nor ever enter into rest." 



24 MOSES 



BETRAYED-NOT LOST. 

But falter not nor be dismayed 
Though Liberty has been betrayed, 
God hath it in his holy keeping — 
The tears and sighs of captives weeping, 
Are bottled up, and written down 
In the Great Book before the Throne. 

He led our Fathers. We have seen 
The cloudy, fiery pillar's sheen 
Shining, a never-failing guide 
To those who in His word abide. 
In recent trouble, doubt, alarm, 
What rescued us but His right arm ? 

When Victory came, and we were proud, 
He laid Great Lincoln in his shroud. 
And sent the man whose acts and name 
Have brought dishonor, grief, and shame. 
And gath'ring clouds appear portentous 
Betokening events momentous. 

But yet the Nation shall not die, 

If on His guidance we rely, 

And not on human might or power ; 

Then shall we stand a lofty tower — 

A beacon for the tempest-tossed, "^^T> 

A home and refuge for the lost, ..^ 



